Throughout the whole of Kantâs cosmopolitanism â a guiding principle underlying his entire system â as defined in his idea of âphilosophy in a cosmopolitan senseâ; there lies a fundamental ambiguity; one that we might call the cosmopolitical problem: on the one hand; the word âcosmopolitanismâ comports a political meaning; on the other; it seems nothing more than a moral stance in Kant. Trying to address this problem; departing from a reconstruction of a Kantian definition of politics; we arrive at a more specific sense of the cosmo-political; namely; the idea of the Kingdom of Virtue; as presented in his Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason. Besides the consequences of this idea upon Kantâs cosmopolitan principle; we can also observe how it gives sense to his idea of culture â more specifically; of cultural difference â as the bearer of a specifically political freedom; namely; the right to differ. Returning to the idea of the Kingdom of Virtue; we conclude that it suggests an alternative approach to cosmopolitanism. Thus understood; cosmopolitanism operates through â culturally developed â mentalities; not through common deliberation; i.e.; politics proper; but it still remains the par excellence scene of the cosmo-political.

This research has been carried out within the research project financed by UEFISCDI; contract number 261 /August 05 2010; project manager: Ăron Telegdi-Csetri.

Current Issues in European Cultural Studies; June 15-17; NorrkĂ¶ping; Sweden 2011

Author:

Áron Telegdi-Csetri

Title:

Cosmopolitanism and Cultural Practice: Towards a Systematic Place of Kantâs Religion

About LinkĂ¶ping University Electronic Press LinkĂ¶ping University Electronic Press, LiU E-Press, is an Open Access publisher with the aim to make the research at LiU as visible as possible, internally, nationally and, most important, internationally and it is a part of the LiU marketing. LiU E-Press supply students and researchers with support and service about the publishing strategy at LiU.

We publish mainly research material produced at LinkĂ¶ping University and Region ĂstergĂ¶tland such as Ph.D. and Licentiate theses, research articles, books, anthologies, chapter in books, reports and student theses.